Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, asserting that the NEET paper leak had betrayed 22 lakh students and that the Centre had failed to fix any meaningful accountability despite the scale of the crisis. Pilot's remarks came ahead of Rahul Gandhi's student outreach programme in Kota, Rajasthan.

Pilot's Accountability Demand

Addressing reporters in Jaipur, Pilot said the examination system had let down millions of aspirants and their families, who invest years of preparation and sacrifice in pursuit of a better future. He stated that even after a CBI probe was ordered into the NEET irregularities, neither the Education Minister nor any official had been held responsible.

'The NEET paper leak betrayed 22 lakh students and shattered their trust. Even after a CBI probe was ordered, neither has the Education Minister resigned nor has any meaningful accountability been fixed. The government continues to evade responsibility,' Pilot said.

Mental Health Crisis and Student Despair

Pilot also connected the examination irregularities to a deepening mental health crisis among students. He noted that several young aspirants, including those in Rajasthan, had been driven to suicide under the weight of shattered hopes. He argued that when the trust of students and their families is broken at this scale, it becomes a matter of national concern.

'Young people spend years preparing for these examinations. Their families make enormous sacrifices, often foregoing basic comforts to educate their children. When that trust is broken, it becomes a matter of national concern,' he said.

Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron ki Goonj' in Kota

Pilot backed Rahul Gandhi's programme in Kota — titled 'Chhatron ki Goonj' — describing it as an interactive dialogue rather than a political rally. He said Gandhi would discuss issues ranging from paper leaks and examination reforms to unemployment and student welfare, and would carry students' concerns to Parliament and the national stage.

Pilot alleged that local authorities were attempting to obstruct the event by removing banners and posters and discouraging participation. 'Despite the pressure being exerted, a large number of students and young people will attend because they want answers about their future,' he said.

Political Battle Over NEET

The remarks come amid a heated political standoff over the NEET controversy. The opposition has accused the Centre of shielding those responsible, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has countered that the Indian National Congress (Congress) is politicising student issues ahead of key examinations. The controversy has intensified calls across the political spectrum for structural reforms in India's national examination framework.

With Rahul Gandhi set to engage directly with students in Kota — one of India's largest coaching hubs — the Congress appears to be framing the NEET crisis as a broader accountability failure, one it intends to press through both street-level outreach and legislative channels.